Training Announcement
Prescribed Fire Training Exchange
Niobrara River Valley Nebraska, March 9-22,2014
Objectives:Conduct a series of controlled burns on The Nature Conservancy’s Niobrara Valley Preserve and provide experiential learning opportunities to participants. These will include opportunities to work in trainee & qualified positions, and learn about local fire ecology and fire management from scientists and managers. Participants will practice technical firefighting skills,including ignitions, holding, briefings, monitoring, engine operations and more.
Target Group:This training is designed to integrate a diverse group of fire practitioners, including university students, municipal, state, federal and contract firefighters, as well as other natural resource managers, scientists and researchers.
Tuition: University students $100; professional practitioners $200.Some tuition waivers are available for participants who bring equipment(e.g. engines, UTVs) or who provide their own lodging in Ainsworth.(Tuition is not pro-rated for those who only attend one of the two weeks.)
Description:Organized as an incident, and using the Incident Command System, participants will serve in qualified and trainee firefighting positions on a prescribed fireteam. Participants will assist with preparation, scouting,igniting,holding, mop-up and patrolonnumerous prescribed fires in the region.We will also complete pre- and post-fire monitoring, train with equipment and practice fireline leadership skills.
There will be field tripsto areas burned in recent wildfires, and presentations from local ranchers, scientists, land managers and practitioners. Participants will also present briefings about the fire regimes in their home region and discuss management challenges and opportunities there. In addition, participants willget practice preparing for interviews with local media.
Requirements:
- All participants must be current and qualified, or have completed NWCG coursesI-100, S-130, S-190 and FEMA IS-700. Self-study materials for thesecourses will be offered to participants who need them.
- Participants must complete anarduous pack test before arrival in Nebraska. Use of the moderate pack test is acceptable if coming as a TNC volunteer and serving in a RxCM (Rx crewmember) position.
- Participants must have insurance (e.g., workers’ comp, health or travel insurance) to cover any injury they receive during event.
- Participants must bring fireline-approved boots (all-leather workboots, 8 inches tall, with non-slip soles and no steel toe). Participants should come with all appropriate Personal Protective Equipment including: Next Generation Fire Shelter, hard hat, Nomex clothing, all-leather gloves, eye protection and canteens for drinking water. If you do not have all the PPE please let us know; for an additional $50 we will provide a complete set.
Meals & Travel:All meals, ground transportation and lodging will be provided during the training. Participants are responsible for their own travel to and from the Niobrara Valley Preserve near Ainsworth, Nebraska. Participants should arrive at the Preserve on Saturday March 9(Saturday March 15, for those participating in the second week only). Although we encourage you to stay for the full two-week assignment, we understand you may have time constraints and are happy to host you for thefirst or second week. Tuition is the samefor one week or two.
Registration: To apply, complete the registration form submit toJeremy Bailey ()by January 17.
This training is hosted by the Fire Learning Network and The Nature Conservancy Nebraska Chapter
The Fire Learning Network is a cooperative program of the Forest Service, Department of the Interior agencies and The Nature Conservancy with a ten-year track record of helping to restore our nation’s forests and grasslands and making communities safer from fire.
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.